A DEA officer stopped at a ranch in Texas to inquire of an old rancher.  He told the rancher, “I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs.”

“Okay,” the rancher said compliantly, but be sure not to go in that field over there,” pointing off to the right.

The DEA officer verbally exploded:  “Mister, I have the authority of the federal government with me!”

Reaching into his rear pants pocket, the arrogant officer removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher.

“See this freeekin’ badge?!  This badge means I can go wherever I want.  On any land!  No questions asked!  No answers given!  Have I made myself clear?  Do you understand?!“

The rancher nodded politely, apologized and went back about his chores.

 A short time later, the old rancher smiled when he suddenly heard loud screams coming from the direction of the forbidden field. He looked up and saw the DEA officer running for his life – the rancher’s big Santa Gertrudis bull bringin’ up the rear.

 With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it seemed like he’d sure enough get gored before he reached safety.

Seeing that the now somewhat humbler officer was clearly terrified and fixin’ to lose the race, the rancher threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs:

“Your baaaaadge, man!!  Show him your freeeeekin’ baaaadge!!“

This is one I wish I’d written.  To whoever did, thanks for the good story.  🙂  Feel free to claim it in my Comment section and I’ll be happy to give proper attribution.

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post The Badger first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>

She was on Facebook recently describing a little event down at the gas station earlier that day.  This fact produced my first laugh.  The things they put on Facebook.

She’s always had an abundance of long gorgeous hair, but lately she’s been fooling around with the color.  Apparently, just prior to this episode she had one of those sessions at the beauty salon that didn’t go precisely as planned.

This produced my second grin. Well, okay. I laughed.

Caitlin: Got out to pump gas and the dude next to me screamed… I looked over at him and he said *oh gosh im sorry your hair scared me I thought you were going to rob the Gas station!!!     * i said No why would i do that.   He goes *your hair is ummmmm yeah* and drove off. Needless to say Im getting it darkened if not a different color! …The other guy in front of me pumping gas you could tell was trying not to laugh!

Caitlin’s Friend: That made my day .  🙂  Well the great thing about hair is it always grows out and you can always change it.  And that guy is paranoid if he thinks you’d rob a bank with hair that recognizable. Lol

I’m not gonna lie. Gramma and I were laughing so hard we almost cried.

“*Your hair is ummmmm yeah* and drove off.”  Hysterical!

We were just visualizing this whole thing and thinking of our dear granddaughter who has, over the years, had a bit of a fondness for getting stuff done to herself (e.g., tattoos, piercings, etc.) that, frankly, just doesn’t look good…at least to me.

To my credit, though, I’ve never screamed!

Well, that’s three.

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post Three Things That Might Make Grampas Laugh! first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>

Meanwhile, one of the many things I’ve been up to lately is this:  I joined a choir!

It must have been September or so when my sister said she had been attending a church in Edmonds where my long-time (long-lost) friend Allan Skoog is the choir director.  She mentioned that in addition to the church choir Allan had for some years been directing a Christian community choir called Mosaic and that she’d decided to join them right away to be involved with their Christmas season.

If you’re, like I am, a dyed-in-the-wool fan of music, specifically vocal music, you will understand my immediate Pavlov’s Dog reaction to Kim’s announcement of her decision to sing.  It just sounded like so much fun! I, however, just knew I couldn’t pull off the logistics of being involved with something like that and dismissed it out of hand.

When I got Allan’s call a few weeks later stating that my sister had told on me and had given him my phone number and that he needed more tenors and that I should show up at his rehearsal the following Monday and that I should quit making mindless excuses and that if I would, we could have a whole lot of fun…well, the rest is history.

On Saturday, December 3rd, A Mosaic Christmas was performed – twice! I know because I was there both times standing between Kelly and Christine singing my heart out, trying to remember the words to all 16 songs, musically declaring the Reason for the season.  What an awesome treat for an old beyond-his-prime tenor!  I’ve spent many years directing church choirs and ensembles, but it’s been a long time since I was able to just be involved as a singer.

So thanks, Kim, and thanks, Allan, for convincing me that it was doable.  Thank you, Mosaic personnel for allowing me to join voices with you!  I loved it and I’m looking forward to January when we’ll all give it another whack!

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post A Mosaic Christmas! first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>

Grace has been known to wax poetic now and again.

This is a poem she dictated to my Dad over the phone (she doesn’t see to write for herself anymore) on April 29, 2010, several months after her 100th birthday.

A hundred years are finished.
A century has gone.
And now a second season
Of learning has begun.

I’ll try to keep me ready
For what the future brings,
Til with the Holy Spirit
My spirit, answering, sings.

I thought this was pretty wonderful coming from my favorite centenarian.

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post Centennial Poetry first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>

Headline:  State Joins Health Act Suit

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna is to be placed appropriately upon a  pedestal and have his praises sung throughout this oppressed state!  Let Freedom Ring!

Though the other Washington has developed a chronic deafness when it comes to its ability to hear the voice of the majority, we will surgically (and without socialized medicine) remove the thick wax from her ears using the forceps of the law.  Dr. McKenna is moving this patient to the front of the Emergency Room line!

By means of a lawsuit, McKenna is joining attorneys general in nine other states to contest the constitutionality of the Obamanation being signed by the president today.

Obama and his gang continue to simply lay aside the Constitution of the United States whenever it suits their purposes.  In this case they are attempting to mandate that every American buy health insurance or face a fine.  Said McKenna, “They could mandate every American should eat one avocado a day and it wouldn’t be constitutional.  They don’t have the power.”

An immediate, vigorous, to-the-death fight is necessary and finally a battle cry from an elected Washingtonian is being raised.  Thank you, Mr. McKenna!  You are my new hero!

As if that were not good news enough, Dr. McKenna is joining the surgery without consulting Queen Christine!  The Governor (term used lightly) is apparently turning three shades of purple over this thing and has purportedly been heard screaming through the hallways of the Capitol Building:  Off with his head!  Off with his head!

Whenever, I hear news of Christine Gregoire being outraged about something, a soothing calm flows down over me and I lean back in my recliner and smile…or giggle…or just think happy thoughts because in those moments I know someone…somewhere…is doing something…right!

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post My New Hero! first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post A Cappella in Acapulco first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>

Between taking time off to do my annual tax preparation marathon, working on the bookkeeping for the church to get ready for the Annual Business Meeting and all the usual stuff, I haven’t been able to think much about writing. With those things behind me I’m at least able to get a quick video up for you.

As you know, I love music and I’m always keeping my ear to the ground for good talent. The video here by young Jean-Baptiste Craipeau is a nice example of that so if you have a couple minutes take a listen.

Let ‘er rip!

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post Say Good-Bye? Never! first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>

There are, of course, no guarantees, but I’d be willing to bet that were you to present a dozen of these handmade (by you!) gems to your sweetheart, it would go a long way toward making up for whatever’s wrong with you in her eyes.

Additionally, along about the 5th or 8th or 10th rose, you’ll probably be getting good enough at folding paper that you could see yourself setting up a little cottage industry folding roses for your buddies and charging them big bucks.

Whether you’re romantically or entrepreneurially inclined or not, take a quick look at this demonstration on how to turn a piece of paper into a rose.  I thought it was pretty intriguing…

…until I tried it, that is.

On second thought, there’s probably not that much wrong with you in her eyes anyway.  Just blow the budget and go buy her some roses…or whatever she likes…unless you’re really inspired to start folding roses, in which case you should Google “how to fold an origami rose” and take your pick.  But whatever you decide, take action now!

Happy Valentine’s Day.

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post Rose-Folding first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>

At the same time, I certainly needed to be able to continue the many things I do that require a computer.  Thanks to my friend Dave Kranz over at Seamus Systems, I moved my base of operations down into the Family Room where Ken and Jan spend the majority of their time.  My “remote” office now consists of my recliner, two TV trays and my laptop via which I’m able to access everything on my desktop computer upstairs.  It’s’ a beautiful thing…and Jan can see me almost non-stop!

All this to say that as an entrepreneur (I’ve worked for myself in some way, shape or form since 1992), these days I’m really only interested in revenue-generating methods that I can do, not from home, but AT home.  Just show me great ways to make money where I never have to leave the house.  Okay, so I’m a caregiver and my clients live with me!

I know I’m the rare bird.  Not everyone wants to be a caregiver.  Neither does everyone want people living with them.  But what about having other great ways to bring money into the household and not needing to venture outside  my four walls?  Better still, I’ve found a couple ways to create cash from my recliner!

You’ll see the first one if you click that link you just passed.

The second one is called Simple Freedom and actually, they can both be done totally from the comfort of your recliner…or couch…or…anyplace you think is a cushy spot from which to work. I am, of course, assuming that you too have a laptop, but the point is that these revenue-generators are both simple, portable and require nothing more than a bit of your time on a consistent basis.

If you’re at all like me, chances are you’ve read a bazillion sales pages that promise to make you a millionaire at some point.  Frankly, I don’t have the ambition to be a millionaire.  I look at the idea of being rich the same way I look at travel:  I like being here and I’m sure I’d like being there, but getting there is a pain in the neck.

So anything that you’ll ever see here that relates to creating income, although it may have the potential for making you wealthy, will simply be geared for helping you pay your rent and buy groceries.  If any of us can get those out of the way consistently then we can all talk about bigger things to come!

So hey, take a look at these two concepts and let me know what you think.  One thing’s for sure, if you get involved with either or both, you’ll know where I am.  I’ll be here to help you!

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post No Million "Aires" Allowed first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>

I decided to tell a little story.  Here’s hoping it will convey its intended sentiment.

I scan Facebook just about every day.  I imagine I’m like most in that once you’ve got an account there and have been “friended” a few times you’re just curious as to what your friends are up to and whether or not some long lost classmate has suddenly discovered you there.

Such was the case several weeks ago during my daily visit when I happened across a short blip by a former sister-in-law and Facebook friend who was announcing that she’d sure like to have folks come by her blog and comment.  Hmmm.  Sure, that sounds like fun and who knows, maybe I can get her involved over at the Comment Exchange.

So I’m over at Theo’s blog looking around and I come across a sidebar section called “Blogs by Family & Friends.”  Cool.  I used to be part of her family.  Maybe there’s something here by someone I know.

Hmmm.  Here’s an author’s picture.

What’s this?

My daughter?

Megan?

My daughter has a blog?

You’re kidding.

Click.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  It’s not that I thought my daughter was incapable of having a blog.  The surprise came in the overwhelming realization that Megan – my daughter – had never, ever said one single word about the fact to me!  Her father!  Her father who she knows writes a blog!

Suffice it to say I was hurt.  I mean, it’s great that she’s doing a blog, but why would she not tell me about it?

Megan is my eldest.  She just turned 30.  She and Kyle have been married eight years today.  But try as they might, no children yet.

I’ve always known that Megan wants to be a mom.

I’ve known from afar that they’ve seen doctors and tried this and that in order to make their parenthood become a reality.  Being her dad, I’ve always tried to refrain from asking too many questions or in any way pressuring her about babies or the lack thereof.

But soon after the aforementioned “click,” the weightiness of Megan and Kyle’s childlessness came down on me heavily.

My sweet daughter writes a blog.  She’s been writing it since October 4, 2008.  The important thing here is not that she’s never shared it with me, but that it’s about infertility. Specifically, hers.

I almost felt guilty reading a few of the posts.  I mean, since she’s never said anything, does that mean she’s intentionally hiding it from me?  Much of it is almost like a diary.  Yet, here it is…on the world wide web…

As I navigated around a little, reading here and there, one thing hit me squarely (laying aside momentarily the pain and expressions of emotion) — This is Megan’s telling of her journey- and it’s really good.

And although her Alexa ranking doesn’t really seem to do it justice, my daughter’s writing seems to have quite a following.  Lots and lots of ladies commenting and relating to Meg’s experience.

Megan knows she’s the daughter of the writer of Boardman Country.  She knows Boardman Country is the place “where everyone’s entitled to MY opinion.”  Is it possible, Meg, that you wondered if MY opinions might slosh out of the bounds of Boardman Country into your domain?  I could certainly understand how you might think something like that.

I don’t know if you’ll ever stumble across this post or not, sweetie.  But just in case you do, let me declare here and now just how proud I am of you.  What a wonderful piece of work you have going over there.  Whatever you do, don’t stop!  You’re a very good writer and you obviously care about how your message is presented.

Meanwhile, your journey continues and although you’ve not yet seen the answer to your prayers, you’ve got quite an army helping you pray them.  Remember, delays are not denials.  God always comes through with His answers at just the right time.  Never too early.  Never late.  Perfect.

I love you so much!  Happy Anniversary!

And for anyone else who’s stumbled through here, this is my daughter Megan (and her husband Kyle) and this is where you can find her.

You’re in Boardman Country!

Make yourself at home,

Brad

<p>The post Daughter of Mine first appeared on Boardman Country.</p>